...and doing okay. Has done some good things, hasn't looked out of place.
Blues 9.9 Dagpies 9.8
Dagpies came out strong after half time and opened up a 2 goal lead - the biggest of the game. 11 lead changes. Very entertaining game.
Pain in the clacker to watch... I've got the sound through the AFL link and picture through Edge! Through the AFL link (Firefox is my default browser) it is stop start buffering, whereas through Edge the picture is good but runs a little slow... running both browsers together fixes the Edge slowness!
As much as we'd like this year to be 17, based on what we have delivered so far this year, it aint so. Media comparisons of us with Rottingwood of last year -- come from behind narrow wins -- hasn't helped, in fact its probably fuelled unrealistic expectations. All season I've been worried about how we win.
It's been great that we've been winning, but it's the way we've been winning - just. Willed over the line. And if Charles doesn't pop up with a 2-4 goal burst of brilliance, we're rooted. That's what concerns this little black duck more than anything. Too nice, still? Can't kill off a side when in front... why? Got ahead of ourselves?
Our wins seemed to have lacked authority. And so much has depended on our classy individuals. At our best we see an attitude of 'hunting'... everyone hunting, but that's evaporated. We seem reactive, lacking fierceness and relentless, consistent pressure. Still with the lapses. We let other sides in... and that's consistent. We accept that other sides will have their time but this seems to serve as an excuse (for failure to win stronger). It's as if we're willing to coast for 3 quarters then come home with a wet sail and another meritorious narrow win.
And we wondered how we would deal with the expectations attached to what we should achieve in 2024, well, we can see it rather clearly.
Personnel. Yes, we have injuries but we had injuries in games and our best missing when we were flying last year and found a way to win, and win well. If there is a mitigation it would be our forward line, a 2 star reliance. Too many small forwards just not delivering. Specifically, Fantasia & small Durds. And let's not get started on our glaring need for a third taller forward. Despite the injuries I hope our selection this week is not conservative... a shake-up is needed. Fingers crossed there are a few shining lights in today's Magoos. And those who suggest TDK might be a worthwhile experiment in defense... I agree.
Old Carlton came to visit - lowered our colours to a lesser team & relied on individual brilliance & too many passengers & bringing in Pitto only weakened TDK (selection table stuff-up) & just too bloody 'cruisy.' Very, very, very undisciplined performance.
Fans will never agree, but for me it's hard evidence that the 24x7 unspectacular and unfashionable stuff that the likes of Cottrell, Owies, Fogarty, Hewett, Kennedy and Cunningham bring is far more valuable than the flash in the pan highlights some others offer.
Fans tend to remember the highlights, the stuff that stands out, without even noticing the grunt work that made it happen.
Not an either/or thing, Spotted One. Successful teams have role players, elite talent and even 'flashy' types. Mix and balance. We love 'em all. And they're all as important as each other.
If I hear that we were 'lucky' again, I'll tear off my own ears! If you want to talk 'lucky', how about Freo getting 66% of their goals from frees... some there, some not. The end.
I'm starting to think Fog might get a fine at best. Binns won't play.
Yep, a real line ball for Fog. His focus was the aggott and that's what he hit with his fist then sliding off the ball, up the arm and into the throat. In his favour is that Fyfe got up and played on unhindered.
Maybe Walsh for E Hollands? If not quite ready, perhaps Binns. Could even be Pitto in!
